The Baha'i Studies Listserv In this other section I added yesterday, I distinguish between Neoplatonism and the critical realism used in the Unities Model<http://unities.bahaifaith.info/>:
The Unities Model resembles, in certain respects, the Neoplatonism of Plotinus (205 A.D.-270 A.D.). However, while the Unities Model takes a critical realist approach to essences or unities, Plotinus had an objective idealist perspective: ... Plotinus sets out a system according to which all reality issues spontaneously, coordinately, and timelessly from a single transcendent and inexpressible source called the One or the Good. This process of emanation produces a hierarchical world order in which each successive form of reality (hypostasis) images its superior at a lower level of unity.... From this point of view, the structure of Plotinus's cosmos corresponds to the route that consciousness takes in contemplative activity as it moves from dispersion to integration. The highest normal level of consciousness is the unified awareness that belongs to Intellect, but in moments of mystical ecstasy the soul-as Plotinus records from his own experience-achieves a loss of particular selfhood in union with the One. Claudio Moreschini, "Platonism," Encyclopedia of Religion. Edited by Lindsay Jones. Vol. 11. 2nd edition. Detroit. Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. Pages 7187-7193. To a large extent, the plausibility of Plotinus' version of an objective idealism ... rests on the plausibility of his conception of matter. Riccardo Chiaradonna and Franco Trabattoni (editors), Physics and Philosophy of Nature in Greek Neoplatonism: Proceedings of the European Science Foundation. Leiden, the Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV. 2009. Page 135. The father of objective idealism was Plato .... Evert van der Zweerde, Soviet Historiography of Philosophy. Norwell, MA. Kluwer Academic Publishers. 1997. Page 117. --- Mark A. Foster, Ph.D., sociology of religion, theory, and clinical sociology Portal: www.markfoster.net<http://www.markfoster.net> * Critical realism: www.structurization.com<http://www.structurization.com> Two books: www.bahaifaith.info<http://www.bahaifaith.info> * Clinical: www.fosterservices.com<http://www.fosterservices.com> ________________________________ The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto ("e-mail") is sent by the Johnson County Community College ("JCCC") and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify JCCC by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-629414-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [email protected] Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
